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NiceOnTheIce , 12 Oct 2011

30 Day Challenge! Join In!

Any new members or returning members care to join me in a no-pick challenge? I am 20 years old and have been picking my face since I hit puberty. Picking my back came shortly after that, and my chest/shoulders after that. A few years ago I started picking the keratosis pilaris on my upper arms, and now I pick at my legs as well. My arms are definitely in the worst shape at the moment; they are easily accessible and you don't need to look in a mirror to pick at them :/ Anyways, I am just completely fed up with feeling self-conscious and embarrassed about my looks. Moreover, I HATE the feeling of being so helpless and out of control! So I was hoping that someone would join me in trying not to pick for 30 days. I tried this before and it worked great for a short while... this time I'm determined to stop! WE CAN DO THIS!
97 Answers
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luvkitties2
October 17, 2011
I kinda know what it is...I'm afraid to look good. As crazy as that sounds, it's affected more than just my skin. I'm overweight; several times I have lost significantly only to put it back on because I was starting to get attention from men, which can be quite scary. I have several disorders in addition to OCD (severe depression, PTSD, BPD, issues with compulsive eating, etc.). I think in my next life, I wish to be buried in an Almond Joy...at least the person eating it will expect to encounter a nut or two!!!
empathy
October 17, 2011
It's hard that challenge, but it gives me energy in my day. I have been avoiding mirrors successfully. I use now only fresh natural products that makes my skin breath. I also use a Tea tree oil gel to put on pimples if they itch too much or I happen to see them. It soothes the itch, make me proud that I took an action, and heals my skin faster. Good day to you all! Perseverance is the key!
NiceOnTheIce
October 18, 2011
Just keep in mind that there's strength in numbers, and we're all in this together. I am very impressed that you're able to get the tea tree oil onto your pimples before you pick at them (I always squeeze them before I have the chance to put anything on them.) So, you should be proud! Good luck to you, keep us updated!
NiceOnTheIce
October 21, 2011
Tea tree oil is stronger than the gel, so that's probably your best bet if you're trying to get rid of single acne pimples. If you want to slather it on an area, then the gel might be a better idea. (Just remember that it could severely dry out your skin and promote acne in other areas, so be careful.) I know that the Body Shop sells tea tree oil, as well as tea tree gel with small "lip gloss" type applicators.
Suzilynn2011
October 18, 2011
Hi everyone, I was able to go 2 days straight without picking at all. I picked today but only one of my scabs on my legs. I will be starting again tomorrow. I have found that acrylic fingernails really help to avoid picking at your skin as they are a little thicker and harder to get the scabs off. For me, it just made me aware that I was doing it and allowed me the chance to stop myself from tearing them off. Vitamin e oil has really helped me to do as well as I have. I keep a bottle near me at all times and when I feel the urge, I put the lotion on. I feel bad that I picked today, but I will start over fresh in the morning and strive for a week at a time. This has made me so much more aware of what I am doing with my hands throughout the day! Thank you for the challenge!
NiceOnTheIce
October 18, 2011
Making yourself aware of what you're doing is the best thing to help you stop! I'm sure we can all agree that half the time we don't even notice ourselves picking, and that's when we go overboard. So good on ya with the acrylic fingernails! (Wish I could use that trick but fake nails wouldn't mesh with my job.) Just to let you know, I was a newcomer not too long ago and I joined a 30 day challenge, and found that reading others' stories and sharing my own helped me so much (even just for that period of time) that I wanted to start one myself, to potentially help other people quit picking! So good luck, keep us updated! "Be inspired, and inspire others."
Bender61
October 18, 2011
I am starting tomorrow! There's no way I'm touching my skin until November. 6! Hold me to it:) and I will keep everyone posted on how I do!
tokyo_516
October 18, 2011
I used to pick my face whenever i feel a bump or just to remove blackheads randomly..at one point it became worse - i remember that i used to apply a serum to dissolve the black heads and whiteheads when i was 21, I finally remembered what it was , bought it and in 14 days ... my face was clear from bumps and black heads.. Scars started to lighten. Thats when i started pulling my hair and picking my scalp :-( I cant stop and i only started doing all these picking when i moved to Japan 6 months ago. I dont know if its anxiety , but now i noticed that im starting to pick on my toe nails!!! I will try not to pick for 30 days!! will keep you guys posted
NiceOnTheIce
October 18, 2011
Ouf, picking the scalp is so addictive :( No one can see underneath your hair so you tend to pick like crazy! (At least I do!) Hopefully you can release some of your anxiety by reading/sharing on the forum! Btw, what is the serum called that you used? It sounds really great.
empathy
October 18, 2011
All right, I had a relapse yesterday evening and picked badly my skin while in class. Today is a new day and I'm gonna do it. I putted on a bracelet that reminds me of my challenge, (I piked this trick on this forum) but I'm gonna get a very bright one, so I wont miss it. I also play with a kind of stress ball when I am at my computer so my hands are occupied when I am not typing. I'll keep you posted if these tricks worked.
empathy
October 18, 2011
So today I am studying for long periods in front of a computer. This is usually a situation where I pick extensively. I have been using a kind of stress ball (it's actually a rubber ring) and every time my hand so much as slightly touched my skin, I grabbed the ring and played with it until I had satisfaction and the urge was gone. It worked, no picking today.
Namaste14
October 19, 2011
Hola chica! We're the same age and I can relate to your posts entirely! I've been trying to motivate myself the past few days to quit to no avail, I keep caving. >:o this has been going on for nearly 3 years now and it's only getting worse and worse. From my face to shoulders, arms, thighs, chest, legs and starting back in may, my scalp. Of course not all at once, I bounce between areas. Except my scalp because I always feel as if it's unnoticeable....when now it's getting so bad you can't miss it! Not to mention doing it in public... This condition has seriously affected my self esteem and self worth which shouldn't be the case because I know that I am not an unattractive or bad person (atleast gotta tell myself that!)..... Anyways, I'm sick of going down this slippery slope and am ready to start loving myself again. Trying to start a new page. Once I love myself, I'll not want to continue with this one bit. So I'm in!! Strength in numbers, guys! I am glad i can relate to other people because i thought i was solo nut job. If I can hit 30 days I'm not going back! By the way, research says it only takes 14 consecutive days to kill a bad habit, so 30 days will kill this skin picking and send it to hell too :)
NiceOnTheIce
October 21, 2011
We sound so alike, I'm going to pick your brain for a sec (no pun intended... seriously.) Do you almost always feel down about picking? Or do you just have those really bad days once in a while where everything feels hopeless? I'm not asking about those "picking binges" we all go on, I'm asking about your feelings towards your picking. Because it sounds like you always have negative feelings towards yourself. Personally, I'm not always thinking about it, I don't always feel bad about myself, etc. I just have bad days where I feel ugly and out of control and kinda like I'm going crazy.
empathy
October 20, 2011
It's great and I'm amazed by it, I continue touching my skin, but I don't actually pick and damage it. I touch delicately my skin and it does not trigger the desire to pick. I want a beautiful skin and I desire to take care of it so badly. I'll continue being connected to this strong desire to take care of myself and be gentle to my skin. What I can recommend that worked for me for others stuff and seems to have an impact now is writing for yourself strong motivations for doing this challenge, an inspiring vision of yourself as if it was today you were free of this compulsion and precise small goals that are accessible to you. Let's go everyone! Let's get free of this damned compulsion together!
NiceOnTheIce
October 21, 2011
Lately, I have noticed myself picking a little. Not going overboard, but squeezing a spot here and there. I have been trying to convince myself that I am still ok for the challenge since I haven't been doing any damage, but today I'm admitting to myself that I failed. I know that I must completely stop picking for this to work. So, I will restart my personal 30 day challenge today, October 20th, at 11:00pm. This time I will quit. Everyone, please continue to share your stories!

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